Priyanka Tiwari
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Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath made a strong appeal for immediate action to regulate emissions and adopt cleaner technologies during the National Conference on Environment – 2025 held at Vigyan Bhawan. The conference was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, with attendees including legal experts, policymakers, academicians, and environmental activists.
Justice Nath voiced concern over the deteriorating air quality, especially in Delhi, saying, “It is not acceptable for our children to grow up in an environment where they need masks to play outside or worry about respiratory ailments at a young age."
Pollution, Water Quality and Sustainable Transport in Focus
Highlighting the urgent need for action, Justice Nath said:
Emission control is crucial for public health.
There’s a need to invest in sustainable transport systems and green industrial practices.
Economic growth must align with environmental protection.
Justice Nath also flagged water pollution, stating that many of India’s sacred rivers are now burdened with untreated waste and industrial effluents. He urged for:
Stronger sewage treatment infrastructure
Active community engagement in keeping riverbanks clean
Strict action against polluters
Role of Judiciary and Civil Society in Environmental Protection
Justice Nath praised the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for its crucial role since 2010 in resolving environmental disputes. He credited the NGT for promoting key principles like:
"Polluter Pays"
Precautionary Principle
He emphasized that:
Government policies must prioritize green technologies.
Industries must reduce their environmental footprint.
Civil society must raise awareness and demand accountability.
“No single institution can shoulder the responsibility alone,” he said, underlining the need for collaboration between judiciary, policymakers, industries, and citizens.
A Call for Environmental Unity and Awareness
Justice Nath concluded with a passionate reminder:
“The environment is not an external entity we manipulate at will. It is an extension of our collective souls... When we protect nature, we protect ourselves.”
NGT and Legal Leaders Join the Call for Reform
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, NGT Chairperson, lauded the conference for its inclusivity and focus on practical environmental solutions through four technical sessions.
Attorney General R Venkataramani emphasized the need for overhauling regulatory bodies and reforming environmental law to include greater citizen participation.
He added, “We need to go beyond penal systems and focus on social awareness and community-based environmental engagement.”
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